I think this upward pressure in wages may also be a reaction to unemployment benefits paying out at a better rate than usual. You can't just pay at parity with

I think this upward pressure in wages may also be a reaction to unemployment benefits paying out at a better rate than usual. You can't just pay at parity with unemployment to entice people on unemployment to work for you. It's not a new minimum wage, but if federal unemployment is of the opinion that you should be getting paid around $15 an hour and will put its money where its mouth is, then you as an employer need to accommodate for that. (To clarify I think this is a good thing) Anecdata: At a McDonalds in an urban center in Colorado they're offering minimum 17.25.